The association between statistical learning and the development of second language grammar learning

Abstract

Statistical learning (SL) is a cognitive mechanism that detects and extracts regularities from environmental input. SL is componential, varying across auditory/visual modalities and verbal/nonverbal domains (The verbal domain refers to communication through language, while the nonverbal domain encompasses communication without words, using cues like images and tones). The study explores the association between SL and second language (L2) grammar learning, considering its componential nature. Thirty‐four participants completed SL tasks and were trained with artificial grammar sequences over 5 days, followed by grammaticality judgment tasks. Visual‐nonverbal and auditory‐nonverbal SL mechanisms were implicated in the early stages of L2 grammar learning, while visual‐verbal SL played a role in the proficient phase. Results indicate modality and domain variation in the SL mechanism, supporting the multi‐component account. The findings contribute to understanding SL's role in L2 grammar learning and support the multi‐component account. They also have implications for L2 grammar learning.